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April 5, 2013

G4: Red Sox 6, Blue Jays 4

Mike Napoli's groundout to third base in the top of the eighth inning brought home Jonny Gomes with the run that snapped a 4-4 tie. Andrew Bailey and Joel Hanrahan held the line, as the Red Sox improved their record to 3-1.

Napoli also hit the team's first home run of the season: a two-run shot to right in the fifth. Will Middlebrooks added a solo shot in the ninth.

With one out in the top of the eighth, Esmil Rogers walked pinch-hitter Gomes and surrendered a double (on an 0-2 pitch) to Dustin Pedroia. Napoli, who finished the night with three RBI, then brought Gomes home.

In the home half of the eighth, Andrew Bailey gave up a double to Rajai Davis with one out, and then walked Cody Rasmus to rachet up the tension. Adam Lind flied to center (moving Davis to third) and Maicer Izturis did the same, ending the threat.

Hanrahan walked Melky Cabrera with two outs in the ninth, but got Edwin Encarnacion on a ground ball to second to save the victory.

Shane Victorino had two hits and scored Boston's first two runs. ... Jackie Bradley reached base three times. ... Jose Iglesias was drilled by a pitch on the right forearm and left the game after three innings. ... His replacement, Pedro Ciriaco, singled and doubled, and was part of a double steal with Jacoby Ellsbury. ... Doubront: 5-9-3-0-6, 90.

For the Jays, Jose Reyes went 4-for-5, with two doubles and a home run. Emilio Bonifacio had a horrific night: he struck out four times and made three errors at second base (two on consecutive plays in the fourth).

Jackie Bradley Jr. has driven in a run in each of his first three major league games. Since RBI became an official stat in 1920, the only other Red Sox to drive in a run in each of his first three big league games was Jim Rice.

The Sox scored at least seven runs in each of their first two games this season - marking the first time the club has done so to start a season on the road since 1919 – a 10-0 win at the Polo Grounds against the Yankees and an 8-0 win at Washington's Griffith Stadium.

Boston has not been homerless in its first three games since 1993 when the club went five games before Mo Vaughn knocked the first home run.